Improvement in folding chairs



UNITEDSTATES VPATENT OFFICE.

sYLvANUS o. HOPKINS, on BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. y

IMPROVEMENT |N FOLDING CHAIRS.

specification forming part ef Lettere' `Patent Ne. 194,433, dated August 21, 1871;V application ineaA Y Merehei, 1877.

To all fathom tt may concern:

lBeV it knewn'thet I, SYLvANUs o. Homme, of Boston, Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Folding and Reclining Chairs, of which the following is a specification: Y

The'object of this invention is to simplify, cheapen, and strengthen the frames of folding and reclining chairs, and to provide for .folding them in the most compact manner.

My improvements relate tothat "class of 'folding chairs in which the `leg-frames are separate and distinct from the back frame. A marked pecnliarity of my chair is thatthese three frames are pivoted to each other at a common point, or at points but slightly remote, leaving the projecting ends free from permanent connection with any of the other parts.

Another distinctive and peculiar. feature is that the legs and back rails are similar in shape to each other, so that they will lie closely upon or beside each other when fold ed; and for convenience, beauty, strength,

and cheapness I make these similar parts of a form corresponding to the arc of a circle, as set forth in my application for a design patent filed simultaneously herewith.

My invention therefore consists in'a folding chair in which the legs and back rails arej made of separate parts, conforming in shape to arcs of circles, and

pivoted "at, or nearly at, a common point.

It also consists inthe combination lof parts and the peculiaritiesof construction herein# after described andclaimed. l

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is. a perspective View of [my improved chair?y 4, spread for ordinary use. Fig.'2 is a section;l

of the same at as with the back folded uponl theseat. Fig. 3 is a side view of the chair folded for transportation or storage. Fig. 4 is aview of the'hinge which unites the two leg-framesand the back frame. Fig. 5 is a view of the locking device for the leg-braces, made full size. Fig. 6 illustrates a means'of securing the braces to the rear leg-frames.

A A are the front legs, B B the back legs,

and C C the side rails, of the back frame.

These parts preferably correspond in shape to arcs of circles, so as to fold in the most compact manner, and should be formed of `bent Wood stock, so as to obtain the greatest strength from a given weightof material. The leg-frames A B, hinged together near their upper ends, are united by one or more braces, D, which may correspond in form and material to the back and legs, or may be straight and flexible, or jointed centrally. These braces are, by preference, two in number, and secured to a fixed rundle, E, uniting the rear legs, and to a movable 011e, F, adapted to rise orfall in grooves G, formed'in the inner faces of the front legs as `the chair is opened or closed. Thus the position of the braces D determines the distance between the feet of the legs A and B.

When the round F is at the top of the groovesfG the legs are spread to the utmost, and the back drops into the position adapted for a reclining chair. When the round F is Vhalf-way down the grooves the legs approach 'each other, as inFig. 1, and when it is at or left, the free end H projecting slightlyfas a lever, by which to manipulate the cam l upon its other end, which turns upon' an axis formed upon or-inserted in the end lof the round F. The grooves G in the legs A are enlarged at the top, and at one or more intermediate points, to permit the cam to turn so as to stand transverse to the general direction of the grooves G. Theweight ofthe part H tends to hold the cam in this position,

and thus to keep the frame locked so that,

the chair maybe moved without disturbing the relative position of the parts.

When it is desired to fold the chair, the

aperture.

lever H is raised so as to throw the cam out of the enlargement of the groove, and permit it to travel freely.

As a means of securing the rear end of the braces to the leg-frames B, I prefer, for neatness of nish, the device shown in Fig. 6, consisting of a short section of metal tubing secured tothe rear end of each brace by means of a screw passed through an aperture in the periphery of the tube, the screwfhead bearing upon the inner side ofthe tube, and its threads entering the end of the brace. These tubesections may also be secured to the braces by a screw at each end of the section, without an Screw-eyes may also be employed. The rundle E is passed through these metal rings, or instead-a stud projecting` from each rear leg enters the tubes or rings, permitting the braces to turn thereon. It is obvious that the arrangement of the braces may be reversed by hinging them in front and locking them 'to the rear legs, suitably grooved, and also that any convenient locking device may be substituted in place of that herein described.

The hinge K (shown in Fig. 4) is a peculiar feature of my invention. It is a iiat metal plate about three thirty-seconds of an inch in thickness, secured to the side of the leg A, at a suitable point, by two or three screws, and projecting downward sufficiently to receive loosely a screw firmly inserted into the same side of the upper end of the leg B, permitting the legs to open and close freely. Another screw or bolt passes through the same plate, and enters the side rail of the back frame, which is at this point placed side by side with the upper part of the leg A. The leg-frames and back-frame are thus separated by the plate K as a washer, and turn uponit as a hinge common to the three parts. 4It is apparent that this plate may be permanently se cured to either of the frames, as convenience may suggest, and that, with the connecting bolts or screws, it constitutes a cheap, convenient, durable, and unobtrusive hinge. The three frames A B G may, at their pivotal points, be placed side by side, and may thus be united by a single bolt passing through the washer.

The upper ends of the legs A A are prolonged beyond the hinges K, and the lower ends of the back rails extend forward from the hinges, so as to bring these two frames, for a certain distance, into parallelism. The upper surface of this part of these frames, brought to a common level, thus forms a broad and comfortable arm-rest, L, without additional expense. For chairs of finer quality I prefer to attach a separate arm-piece, M, at this point in the following manner: the armpiece covers the back and leg frames in the vicinity of the hinge K, and has along its inner edge a side hinge, N, connecting it with the back frame. This hinge is, by preference, a coiled spring, one end of which is secured to the side rail C, and the other to the armpiece M; or, if preferred, the hinge and spring may be entirely distinct. Thus when the back is folded upon the seat the arm-piece is turned upon its edge, and follows the end of the rail C in its movement, and when the back is again spread for use the tension of the spring returns the-arm-piece promptly to its place, and tends to hold the back in position.

A suitable stop, O, preferably formed upon the inner sides of the prolonged ends of the leg-frames A, prevents the back frame from falling back too far. Aside from the attachment of the stops and arm-pieces, the projecting ends of the legs and back rails are entirely free and disconnected with any other parts,

land hence the back frame may fold and unfold independently of the leg-frames. Thus the chair is folded by two distinct operations, either of which may precede the other. By folding the back while' the legs are spread, less space is occupied, and dust is excluded from the seat and the front side of the iiexible back.

I form the seat and back of my chair in one continuous piece of stout canvas, leather, carpet, or other suitable flexible material, supported looselyl between the top round P of the back frame and a cross-bar, Q, at a proper height, connecting the front legs; or, without change in the other parts of the chair, I employ a rigid seat, S, its front end resting upon and secured to the cross-bar Q, and its rear end suspended by the iexible back R from the top of the back frame. In `the latter case I arrange the parts so that the rear end of the seat, when occupied, will rest upon a round, E, of the rear legframe, or upon some other suitable stop to relieve the back of a portion of the strain, and in the better grade of chairs I interpose a block of rubber, U, between the seat and rest, or otherwise give to the stop some elasticity.

The operation of the chair is obvious.

I claim as of my invention- 1. A'folding chair having the sides of its three folding sections formed of wood, bent to correspond in shape to arcs of circles, and pivoted upon hinges common to all said parts, substantially as set forth.

2. In a folding chair, the combination of a pivoted back frame, two leg-frames and their connecting-braces, with the llocking device for the braces, substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding chair, the combination of the back frame and the two leg-frames with hinges K, constructed as described, uniting the frames, substantially as set forth.

4. In a folding chair which combines the three frames, .as described, the arm-rest L, formed by the upper surfaces of two of the frames lying side by side, and pivoted to each other, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the front and rear leg-frames pivoted above the seat, and the back frame folding independently of the othel` parts ofthe chair, substantially as set forth.

6. In aJ folding chair, the combination, with the back and leg frames, of an arm-piece hinged by its side to one of the frames, and arranged to fold inwardly when the chair is folded, Substantially as set forth.

7. In a folding chair, the combination of a, rigid seat, aflexible back attached to the seat, anda yielding stop beneath the seat supporting its rear end, substantially as set forth.

SYLVANUS e. HOPKINS.

Witnesses g A. H. SPENCER,

H. W. LADD. 

